RACING:SATURDAY'S Qipco Champion Stakes is a rare Group One blank in Aidan O'Brien's illustrious CV and bookmakers reckon Declaration Of War isn't going to change that against the mighty Frankel.

Just seven possible opponents were left in the “Champions Day” highlight this weekend after yesterday’s forfeit stage, with Frankel 1 to 7 favourite to end his career with a perfect 14-from-14.

Frankel’s old rival Excelebration will also appear on Saturday and is 4 to 6 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where he will renew hostilities with Cityscape and Elusive Kate, who he beat in August’s Prix Jacques Le Marois.

However, it is Declaration Of War that will be the latest Ballydoyle hope to lock horns with the world’s highest-rated racehorse and with conditions likely to be as soft as Frankel has faced, nobody in the Juddmonte camp is taking anything for granted, with both Cirrus Des Aigles and Nathaniel also in the field.

“It’s building up to be a really true test for him. I think it’s exciting,” the Juddmonte spokesman, Lord Grimthorpe said yesterday. “I’ve always come into this with the attitude that we have to enjoy him. The horse has done everything that we could possibly have dreamt about and I hope he’ll run a huge race on Saturday.

“I would think soft wouldn’t be too much of a problem. It was quite soft when he worked on the racecourse but [work rider] Shane [Fetherstonhaugh] got off him and said he handled it very nicely. Henry is very pleased with him. It’s all systems go.”

Fame And Glory heads an Irish cast list for the Long Distance Cup that could also include Rite Of Passage, Saddlers Rock and Simenon, while Oaks heroine Was and Dermot Weld’s Sapphire feature in the Champion Fillies Mares race.

BRIAN O’CONNOR